It’s quarter final time and both matches today are a battle between experience and youth. World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka takes on a teenager for the second consecutive match while veteran Elina Svitolina will attempt to take down another young star (Gauff) after having already scored an upset win over Andreeva.
The top seed was seemingly in complete control when she was up 6-1 4-1 against Mboko but as has often been the case throughout this tournament, there was a significant dip in her level. Her experience was the difference in the tiebreaker and she now faces another teenager who has made an instant impact on tour. The American embarrassed Putintseva 6-0 6-1 and has won a better percentage of 2nd serve points (64%) than any of the other women left in the draw. Sabalenka has been well below her best in recent matches and cannot afford a complacent performance here. She has won only 63% of 1st serve points across her last three matches and that spells trouble as Jovic has generated 21 breaks of serve – more than any other woman in the tournament despite having played only 8 sets. Really like the Overs in this match and believe Sabalenka is in danger of defeat if she does not produce her best.
This is the 14th Grand Slam quarter final appearance for Svitolina but it is a stage that she has great difficulty in overcoming with a 3-10 record in her 13 previous attempts. In contrast, Gauff is 5-4 in major quarter finals and has already converted that into two Grand Slam titles. Their first ever meeting came on this very court five years ago with Svitolina posting a convincing victory against a then 16-year-old Gauff. The American has bounced back since by winning their next two battles – coming from a set down on each occasion. Svitolina drew 33 unforced errors from Andreeva but Gauff will keep things tidier than that and will not give Svitolina as much pace to work with. That said, her defensive nature will give Svitolina a chance to be the aggressor from the baseline and she has shown a willingness to more forward and finish points off. Like Gauff to progress but can see this one going the distance.